Always Look For Where Your Index Finger Will Be
Example A
Look for a passage that has a range of four or sometimes five frets. That’s one position.
- Scan that whole range to find the lowest number.
- That's usually your index finger. In Example A, your index finger would play the number 5.
Example B
Notated slides often signal a position shift of the hand.
- In Example B, your index finger would play the lowest number, number 5, which slides the whole hand up two frets.
- You now have a new position to reach the next group of notes.
- You will often stay in the new position for at least a few notes .
Example C
Look for stacked notes, which indicate chords.
- Again, your index finger will probably be the lowest number (7).
Bends will usually be the ring or pinkie finger.
- That's your clue you to where your index finger goes and your hand position is.
Example D
- Look for scale patterns in the lick that can allow you to reach all the notes in a familiar way.
Example E
When a new note is ahead or below the 4-5 fret range and repeats, that usually signals a movement to a new position.
- Starting on the 2nd fret, the 5 fret range of fingering would say that the 6th fret is the furthest you would play. Anything further could be played on the next string.
- When you see the 7th fret notated in the lick, that shows that you're going to be changing positions somewhere.
- You reapply the "lowest fret number trick" near the 7 and you see that the index is going to need to be at the 4th fret (at the latest, after you play the 7).
- There are three places to move your index to that 4 so there's plenty of room to find your position shift style.
This is always the best way to approach a new chart of tab. It takes care of so many confusing decisions for you. If your index finger is set, everything else is usually intuitive. Yes, there are exceptions (we're talking bout guitar, after all) but this will give you a global view right away.
Does this work for you? Drop me a line and let me know if you have some tips of your own. Just hit reply on the email that sent you here
Cheers!
Bryan